Still thinking about it!!

[nsd_user663_52845]

Hi All

Hope everybody is doing and feeling great?

Feeling a little sorry for myself again today, nowhere near as bad as when I first quit, but still it's "there"

After the best part of 6 weeks I am STILL thinking about smoking a hell of a lot!

It doesn't feel like craving, I'm not climbing the walls or beating my head with a frying pan (don't try that at home! ) but it's just a fairly constant "shouldn't you be having a smoke now?" kind of thought!!

I'm really hoping that this isn't a bad sign for the future :eek:

I really just want to forget about it but I can't seem to at the moment.

Is this just junkie thinking?

Anyway, please line up to give me a slap in the face/kick in the shin/ boot up the a*se/all of the above!!

Thanks for your time folks

Take care

Greg

x

[Unah]

Hi Greg, it's normal to keep thinking about it. You smoked 20 -30 times a day. You can't expect to stop thinking about it so soon. You will think about it less and less until one day you won't think about it at all.

You're doing well. Keep it up.

[nsd_user663_52845]

P.S I have just set up the social group for the Grange Hill Gang, to try and make myself feel better.

Don't really know what I'm doing but managed to set it up anyway

Dedicated to all the mid'tober quitters.

[nsd_user663_52845]

Thank you for your response Una

It is very much appreciated when I wobble.

First slap received ... tough love ... it's the only way forward!

[nsd_user663_53437]

slapped

Consider youself slapped across the face with a wet fish.......

Get those positive vibes back to in your thoughts!!

I know what you mean about thinking about it, but recently I have changed in so much as when I do think about it, I feel very happy that I really have stopped, not that little niggly sensation that I had before:).....I hope this comes to you too soon!

Take care and stay strong!!

MARIE XXX

[nsd_user663_52845]

OW!

That one hurt Marie!

Thank you for the help

Take care

Greg

x

[nsd_user663_48218]

Why not change the way of thinking? I'm not a big fan of Allen Carr but I know his method works for a lot of people (it never worked for me I'm afraid). One of the things he says is that you will think about smoking a lot and that instead of trying to ignore it, change the thought pattern. So when you think "I should be smoking now" follow this up with a positive like "and isn't it great that I don't have to". There are elements of his method which are fantastic and I believe this to be one of them. It does seem weird forcing positivity for a few hours but then it becomes habit. As you get more positive I would imagine that the thoughts get less and less until you aren't thinking about them at all.

Good luck and you are doing fantastically so far!

[nsd_user663_53753]

Nothing wrong with thinking about smoking, it's what you think that matters. Seeing my work collegues rushing out of work during their lunch break for a smoke makes me think of smoking, but only to think that I'm glad I don't have to any more! On a dry day like today I can go outside and not have to smoke, and if the weather's crap, I stay inside. The smoker doesn't have a choice.

Sending big hugs to you. Stay strong.

May x

[nsd_user663_40384]

Hey, if you smoke again, you'll be thinking about it still....how pissed off with yourself you are, how you've got to go through it all again. It's only the first half of the first one that feels any good anyway when you start again....don't do it. Keep going keep going

[nsd_user663_53437]

Why not change the way of thinking? I'm not a big fan of Allen Carr but I know his method works for a lot of people (it never worked for me I'm afraid). One of the things he says is that you will think about smoking a lot and that instead of trying to ignore it, change the thought pattern. So when you think "I should be smoking now" follow this up with a positive like "and isn't it great that I don't have to". There are elements of his method which are fantastic and I believe this to be one of them. It does seem weird forcing positivity for a few hours but then it becomes habit. As you get more positive I would imagine that the thoughts get less and less until you aren't thinking about them at all.

Good luck and you are doing fantastically so far!

Totally agree with this, his book does help chage the mind set!!

[nsd_user663_20558]

Eyup.

I think I thought about it almost constantly for the first three months or so. It's perfectly normal, and if you have the right attitude, it doesn't have to be too painful. It's not the same as those agonising craves you get in the early days and you can turn it around - when your brain goes 'er, shouldn't we be smoking now'? You say 'nope, and here's why...'.

The more often keep reinforcing that internal message, the more deeply it becomes ingrained in your subconscious, and the easier the quit becomes.

Read the link in my signature!

Helen x

[nsd_user663_52845]

Thanks all

Yes I have read Allen Carr and he does make it sound so simple doesn't he!

I agree with everything he says to be honest.

Thanks Lostie

It just goes to show "what a difference a day makes!!"

I do keep forgetting the positives sometimes even though I CAN feel them.

Just got to get on with it, it does feel slightly easier than when I first quit so things must be moving on ... surely!

Thanks for the quick slaps folks

Take care

Greg

x

[nsd_user663_53212]

i will be 1st in line to slap u across the mush with a soaky fish as long as u slap me to

I too think of cigs more than I think I should but now after 2day I will never smoke again. ( There i said it with a very assertive voice:D)

[nsd_user663_53658]

Hiya Greg, first of all, I would like to thank you. I don't think you realise or give yourself enough credit for, how much your posts mean to people posting for the first time / in trouble. You are so friendly and positive about quitting smoking.

I think you know that if you were to stand back and look at your thoughts you'd see them for what they are. When I struggled last week and posted you replied, I started asking myself "but would you smoke cig if someone offered you one?" And because of what you said I could see that the answer was "no".

I could see that because of your words Greg. Just ask yourself whenever you notice how much you're thinking about smoking "would I smoke one if someone offered me one right now"

The answer will always be "NO"

Then you'll see how strong your quit still is. It's meant to be

[nsd_user663_52500]

I'm completely with you Greg, it is getting on my nerves! I too don't feel as though I'm climbing the wall but I think about it way more than I hoped I would be.. I think the only difference is is that it is maybe getting more fleeting but that is the only positive thing I can think about oh and the fact that I am still not smoking and have no intention of!

Ali

[nsd_user663_52845]

Thank you all so much for the words of wisdom.

I have read your link Hells and it does make perfect sense. I stupidly thought I would be over thinking about it by now, I think that may be my problem!

Mr Instant, are we done yet? I have to get on....

I have read so many times that quitting is a process, not an event..I just have to remember that.

All of your kind and wise words have spurred me on peeps, hopefully to victory. :cool:

It is very therapeutic helping new quitters or people in trouble Molly. I just think what goes around comes around so if we all just keep passing the positivity (spelt write or rong? ) we will all get each other through this silly little game!

Thank you folks and hope you all had a good day

Take care

Greg

xx